Workforce, training and education
Yorkshire and Humber

Histopathology.

The Specialty

Histopathology encompasses a study of disease, makes diagnosis, provides prognostic information and guides management of patients to ensure accurate and timely care of clinical problems encountered by patients in the NHS today.

The lifelong study of disease, combined with the constant requirement to diagnose clinical conditions, creates one of the most rewarding and intellectually challenging career choices for an individual with a genuine interest in the subject of medicine. Histopathologists find their work very rewarding, as they are making a vital contribution to disease diagnosis. Although there is very little patient contact, you are helping patients in a very important way. Because the on-call commitment is minimal and direct management of patients lies with other doctors, this is a specialty where a good work-life balance can readily be achieved. While certain diagnoses can be easy to make, others can be challenging or seemingly impossible. Great mental concentration for sustained periods is required, which can be exhausting even if the physical demands of the day job appear light. However, this means most days are finished with a sense of real satisfaction and achievement. The specialty faces exciting challenges in moving to digital technology, and the fast growing sphere of molecular diagnosis and genomic medicine.

Important information for trainees about The Royal College of Pathologists and the organisation of training can be found on the College website: https://www.rcpath.org/discover-pathology/careers-in-pathology.html

 

The Programme

Our Histopathology Training Programme in Histopathology has a reputation for delivering a high quality, broad based training with exposure to sub-speciality training governed by trainees’ interests and requirements. A robust process of educational supervision drives the training scheme and is based on the “Gold Guide” and sound educational principles. We are supported by three Training Programme Directors (TPDs). We have strong cohort of Educational Supervisors throughout the region. You will be allocated a named supervisor who will guide you all the way through your training.

The Yorkshire and Humber Histopathology Training Programme comprises six or twelve month placements in hospitals in Sheffield, Leeds, Dewsbury, Bradford, Hull, Halifax, Harrogate and York, Chesterfield, and Doncaster. These are supervised by high quality and dedicated staff.

We are able to offer higher autopsy training module, leading to the Certificate of Higher Autopsy Training (CHAT). Higher cervical cytology training may be facilitated, though would require secondment to a neighbouring region to complete the Certificate of Higher Cervical Cytopathology Training (CHCCT). We also offer the opportunity to sub-specialise in Paediatric & Perinatal Pathology and Diagnostic Neuropathology at ST3 entry point.

Trainees are appointed by national selection process at ST1 level to complete five years of training to award of CCT in Histopathology. Trainees are allocated to a base hospital either in Leeds or Sheffield, according to your preference, made at the point of application. Here you will join one of the ST1 School cohorts, and will retain this principal base for the duration of training. You may choose to swap by agreement with the TPD. All trainees can expect to rotate out from their base to a regional hospital, for at least for six months, though many trainees benefit from the diversity of multiple placements, including a range of teaching hospitals. Typically those based in Leeds can expect a wider range of placements, though we are working to spread this opportunity more evenly.

We have a strong academic training programme based at Leeds University, with a number of Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs), and Clinical Lecturers (CLs). There are excellent opportunities for Out of programmer experience, leading to PhD.

There is a continuous programmer of formal and informal postgraduate education. A full day seminar programmer is delivered bi-weekly, on Mondays. We have a recommended list of external course which are made available. Trainees have the opportunity to go on a management course attend at least once during their training, which is useful both preparation for consultant jobs, and for interview skills. The School also runs an in-house clinical leadership skills day, biannually for senior trainees.

Progress in training is monitored using assessment practices laid out in the curriculum and reviewed by the Speciality Training Committee at the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) process.

 

Please find information on the sites delivering this Programme below:

 

Trainees' Comments

Find out what 3 of our past trainees thought about the training provided on the programme.

Endorsements. 

 

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS
The Medico-Legal Centre, Sheffield
Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Royal Hospital
Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust